London touristing for the older and non-English speaking tourist
January 6, 2016 5:30 AM Subscribe
Looking for suggestions for London touristing in March. We'll be with a 65+ couple who don't speak English and one of whom has some fatigue and mobility (no assistive devices) issues. What are some fun things for us to do? They'll be staying with us in central London and we're right on the Northern Line. Bonus points for free/low-cost activities and vegetarian eats.
Thanks!
Many of London's major museums have free entry, so that offers a range of places to visit, depending on your interests. For food, I thought Masala Zone was pretty good; it's vegetarian-friendly and has several locations in London.
posted by neushoorn at 5:55 AM on January 6, 2016
posted by neushoorn at 5:55 AM on January 6, 2016
Things I did with my parents who are 65+ with little English
- Walk around Clapham Common with a stop into Fields (it's like a box cafe by the skate park) for a coffee and snack
- Tower of London has a surprisingly wide array of foreign languages supported in their audio guides.
- Tower Bridge is always nice to walk under.
- You can walk along the South Bank if it's a nice day and then go on the London Eye, which gives a good view and you can sit if you get tired of standing. Sorry, that one is expensive but you can book in advance for a slight discount on the outrageous price.
- Spitalfields has a lot of tat to explore in the stalls with lots of restaurant/cafe options for a rest
- St. Paul's cathedral is worth a view now that they've finished cleaning it up a bit
- Borough Market is great but it's a bit crowded and harder to find somewhere to sit. If you do go there, book a table at Brindisa or something and head there after walking around.
- All the free museums are great. I took my parents to the British Museum specifically because they had a section on Korean artifacts.
- Given the unseasonably warm winter we're having, March might just be about a good time to check out Kews. I took my parents in an unseasonably cold April and there was still enough to enjoy.
On preview: I am not a vegetarian but I second Masala Zone, yummy.
posted by like_neon at 6:06 AM on January 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
- Walk around Clapham Common with a stop into Fields (it's like a box cafe by the skate park) for a coffee and snack
- Tower of London has a surprisingly wide array of foreign languages supported in their audio guides.
- Tower Bridge is always nice to walk under.
- You can walk along the South Bank if it's a nice day and then go on the London Eye, which gives a good view and you can sit if you get tired of standing. Sorry, that one is expensive but you can book in advance for a slight discount on the outrageous price.
- Spitalfields has a lot of tat to explore in the stalls with lots of restaurant/cafe options for a rest
- St. Paul's cathedral is worth a view now that they've finished cleaning it up a bit
- Borough Market is great but it's a bit crowded and harder to find somewhere to sit. If you do go there, book a table at Brindisa or something and head there after walking around.
- All the free museums are great. I took my parents to the British Museum specifically because they had a section on Korean artifacts.
- Given the unseasonably warm winter we're having, March might just be about a good time to check out Kews. I took my parents in an unseasonably cold April and there was still enough to enjoy.
On preview: I am not a vegetarian but I second Masala Zone, yummy.
posted by like_neon at 6:06 AM on January 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Tube/buses/trains can be maxed out during the morning and evening rush. Schedule accordingly.
Google the "Transport for London" site and use it for route planning and checking for transport problems, especially closed Tube lines and stations on weekends.
Check the weather forecast for London a few days before you arrive, then decide what to pack.
Museum visits can involve a lot of aimless walking. Maybe best to plot out your visit first?
If you want to reduce taxi/Uber costs, use them at the end of the day when you're tired and your feet ache.
posted by justcorbly at 10:05 AM on January 6, 2016
Google the "Transport for London" site and use it for route planning and checking for transport problems, especially closed Tube lines and stations on weekends.
Check the weather forecast for London a few days before you arrive, then decide what to pack.
Museum visits can involve a lot of aimless walking. Maybe best to plot out your visit first?
If you want to reduce taxi/Uber costs, use them at the end of the day when you're tired and your feet ache.
posted by justcorbly at 10:05 AM on January 6, 2016
Transport for London have guidance on accessible travel, including maps that show step free and no stairs stations: https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/. As teststrip said, the lifts might not be near the escalators so keep a look out for the signs.
Depending on your cost/effort ratio, and what languages your relatives speak, you might want to look at doing a bus tour as an easy way to see the sights, and potentially with narration they can understand. And/or a boat trip from Vauxhall or Westminster to the Tower or Greenwich.
As a veggie, Mildred's in Soho is great, but you have to get there early as you can't book tables and they're always busy. Leon's is good for reliable veggie food. There's a good all you can eat veggie Indian buffet on Drummond Street near Euston Station. But I rarely struggle to find something to eat in London restaurants (although if onions/garlic/eggs are out it can be harder)
posted by Helga-woo at 11:08 AM on January 6, 2016
Depending on your cost/effort ratio, and what languages your relatives speak, you might want to look at doing a bus tour as an easy way to see the sights, and potentially with narration they can understand. And/or a boat trip from Vauxhall or Westminster to the Tower or Greenwich.
As a veggie, Mildred's in Soho is great, but you have to get there early as you can't book tables and they're always busy. Leon's is good for reliable veggie food. There's a good all you can eat veggie Indian buffet on Drummond Street near Euston Station. But I rarely struggle to find something to eat in London restaurants (although if onions/garlic/eggs are out it can be harder)
posted by Helga-woo at 11:08 AM on January 6, 2016
Take the London river bus from one of the central piers (I like the one at the Savoy) out to Greenwich. It's a fleet of big hydrofoils with indoor and outdoor seating, a bar/cafe on board and AMAZING views of lots of central London attractions as you zoom out to Greenwich, which is worth a visit in itself.
It's also part of TfL, so with an Oyster card it's very affordable. We used to do this with pretty much everyone who ever visited us when we lived in London and almost universally they said it was a highlight of the trip.
posted by Happy Dave at 1:27 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's also part of TfL, so with an Oyster card it's very affordable. We used to do this with pretty much everyone who ever visited us when we lived in London and almost universally they said it was a highlight of the trip.
posted by Happy Dave at 1:27 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I had a quick look on the British museum and the Tate modern website. Both have wheelchairs that you can borrow, and I imagine there's similar in other museums. The person your with might be resistant, but some of those museums are large, and saving their legs will help with fatigue. Or the red cross loans wheelchairs for free, which would probably increase how much you can do in a day, but delivery is apparently difficult to central London. Other sources for hiring wheelchairs.
We ate a lot of Pret a Manger. Cheap, easy, everywhere and had wifi. It has some vegetarian options.
posted by kjs4 at 10:47 PM on January 7, 2016
We ate a lot of Pret a Manger. Cheap, easy, everywhere and had wifi. It has some vegetarian options.
posted by kjs4 at 10:47 PM on January 7, 2016
I second the river bus suggestion as well! Probably a much better way of viewing the river sights than walking along the South Bank!
posted by like_neon at 2:05 AM on January 8, 2016
posted by like_neon at 2:05 AM on January 8, 2016
Response by poster: These are all great--thanks for the recommendations. If I find anything else, I'll update.
Cheers!
posted by stillmoving at 1:57 AM on January 11, 2016
Cheers!
posted by stillmoving at 1:57 AM on January 11, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
I really recommend all my visitors head to Borough Market for a delicious food experience - at London Bridge Tube station. I think everyone should visit Harrods once, for the experience and to say they've been. again, the foodhall there is great. My mum really liked the Columbia Rd flower market in East London on a Sunday. Afternoon tea at one of the hotels is also a classic.
Most tube stations have lifts from the platform to the ticket hall, just look for a lift sign. It may be in the opposite direction to the 'way out'. Uber/London taxis are plentiful. Install Hailo for black cabs or the Uber app for your visit, so you don't need to flag a black cab down.
posted by teststrip at 5:52 AM on January 6, 2016